eNews NEWS FOR OUR PARISH COMMUNITY May 5, 2019
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Inside this Issue (Download pdf here) This Sunday's Schedule
Adult Formation
Parents Connect
Parish Hall Forum
Preparing for Sunday
Upcoming Events
Public Theology
Consecration of 4th WTN Bishop
Easter Book Study
GSL Book Group
May Messenger
Take Note
Summer Supper Clubs
MTAM Service Opportunities
Congregational Life Survey
Enriching Our Worship
Youth Formation Director Called
Vestry Minutes
Children & Youth
Vacation Bible School
Episcopal Youth Community
Choirs
Adult Formation (May 5)
Parish Hall Forum with Bishop Kevin Brown The Episcopal Diocese of Delaware describes itself as the Delaware branch of the Jesus Movement, called to become a diocese growing toward reconciliation and inclusion. It intends to
bridge divides, embrace differences, and seek mutual understanding. Its eleventh bishop and former GSL member, the Right Reverend Kevin S. Brown, will share highlights about current and future creative ministry opportunities designed to cultivate the seeds of tomorrow’s church. Join us in Trezevant Hall for breakfast at 8:45 a.m. followed by the Parish Hall Forum from 9:3010:20.
To listen to past Parish Hall Forum classes, visit www.gracestlukes.org/forum-videos. To view this Sunday's full schedule: see below.
Parents Connect with the Rev. Katherine Bush Parents Connect is a fellowship group for all parents of children and teens. Parents Connect gathers at GSL approximately twice a month on Sundays at 9:30 a.m. to make connections, foster community, and learn through special formation offerings and guest speakers. This Sunday's class will be lead by the Rev. Katherine Bush.
Preparing for Sunday This week's readings: Acts 9:1-6 · Revelation 5:11-14 · John 21:1-19 · Psalm 30 www.gracestlukes.org/discover/this-sundays-texts/
Upcoming Events
Public Theology (May 2) Mark your calendar for the next GSL Public Theology this evening, May 2, 5:30-7 p.m. at Celtic Crossing in the Cooper Young neighborhood. Join Father Ollie Rencher to discuss “Practicing Resurrection: How To Live With Hope.” Public Theology is a time of laid-back fellowship and open conversation facilitated at a public restaurant by a member of the clergy. Topics will focus on relevant issues of faith, spirituality, and current events. Both non-alcoholic and alcoholic refreshments will be available for purchase. All adults are invited to these drop-in gatherings, so bring a friend! Watch the parish news and notices for the upcoming topic for June 6. For more information, contact the Rev. Ollie V. Rencher (901-252-6320, orencher@gracestlukes.org)
The Consecration of the 4th Bishop of West Tennessee (May 4) God willing and the People consenting, the Reverend Phoebe Alison Roaf will be ordained and consecrated a Bishop in the One, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church and Fourth Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of West Tennessee Saturday, May 4, at 11 a.m. at Hope Church, 8500 Walnut Grove Road, Memphis. Chief Consecrator: The Most Reverend Michael Bruce Curry, Presiding Bishop and Primate of the Episcopal Church. The Bishop and Standing Committee of the Episcopal Diocese of West Tennessee request your prayers and presence. A reception will follow.
Easter Book Study (May 6) Divine Therapy & Addiction: Centering Prayer and the Twelve Steps
by Thomas Keating The study will be held Monday, May 6, from 6-7:30 at Grace-St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in the Lounge). In this major work, Father Thomas Keating reflects on the wisdom and legacy of the Alcoholics Anonymous Twelve-Step Method and its connections to, and similarities with, the Christian mystical traditions of centering prayer and Lectio Divina. Hosted by the Addiction and Recovery Commission for the Episcopal Diocese of West Tennessee.
Daytime Book Group (May 9) Our next discussion is May 9 with The Last Castle by Denise Kiernan. This is an open group—no invitation or requirements other than a love of reading. We meet in the Red Room from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Bring a sack lunch. The group is facilitated by Janie Morris (morrishome1 at bellsouth.net) and Carol Ann Mallory (cam2269 at aol.com). A list of books for upcoming months may be found at www.gracestlukes.org/events/daytime-book-group.
Take Note
GSL Summer Supper Clubs Summer is just around the corner, and it’s time to sign up for a Summer Supper Club group. This is a casual and fun way to create new friendships, and help new parishioners feel the hospitality that is associated with GSL. Groups of 6-8 GSL parishioners will gather for dinner two or three times during the months of May, June, July, and August. Sign up by May 24 online at https:tinyurl.com/GSL2019SupperClubs.
Director of Youth Formation Called to GSL Mr. Amzie Williams of Oxford, Mississippi will join the clergy-staff team in late May as the full-time Director of Youth Formation following the interim ministry of Youth Formation Associates, Addison Combs and Jess Steenbergen, and Youth Formation Intern, Zeke Smith. Stay tuned for details about a celebration of their ministry. More information about Amzie is available in the public spaces at GSL and online at www.gracestlukes.org/news/director-of-youth-formation/.
Upcoming Spring MTAM Service Opportunities Please join members of your vestry to help cook and serve at More Than A Meal. We are looking for some additional volunteers to help with these two dates: Sundays, May 19 & June 16, from 3-5 p.m. If you are available, please contact me or sign up using the following link: tinyurl.com/MTAM2019. —Kurt Patton, Senior Warden
Congregational Life Survey On behalf of the vestry, treasurer, clergy, and staff, I wish to express my profound appreciation for the countless gifts of time, talent, and treasure that have been offered to support life at Grace-St. Luke’s, and to ask for your participation in a Congregational Life Survey. Currently, plans are underway for parish worship opportunities, formation programs, events, and outreach for Summer 2019 through Spring 2020 to nurture the spiritual journeys of parishioners and future parishioners. Your offering of feedback will be key to our process. Please complete this online 5minute survey: www.surveymonkey.com/r/EasterSurvey2019. –The Rev. Ollie V. Rencher
The Use of “Enriching Our Worship” during Eastertide The General Convention of the Episcopal Church (1997) authorized Enriching Our Worship as one of the Supplemental Liturgical Materials to the Book of Common Prayer, in keeping with our Church’s continual seeking of an authorized language of Common Prayer capable of expressing what we believe about God, as well as reflecting on our own corporate and individual relationship to the Godhead. This supplement is not intended to supplant the Book of Common Prayer, but rather to provide additional resources to assist worshiping communities wishing to expand the language, images and metaphors used in worship. Enriching Our Worship liturgies will be used occasionally during certain seasons in life at GSL.
Vestry Minutes The Vestry Minutes are now available for download for the February 2019 meeting, by following this link and the March 2019 meeting, by following this link.
Children & Youth
Register Today for VBS 2019 Wednesday Evenings 5:30-8 p.m. June 5, 12, 26, July 10, and 17 Crafts, Games, Songs, Stories, and Dinner for Rising JK to 5th grade! Attend any or all! $10 per night, $25 family max * Sign up online at www.gracestlukes.org/VBS
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: Interested in helping? Please contact Sharon Campbell, Director of Children’s Education, scampbell@gracestlukes.org
*Children of volunteers attend FREE! Nursery also available for volunteers’ children ages 3 and younger
Sunday Morning Classes To view this Sunday's class schedule, see below.
Episcopal Youth Community Sunday, May 5: (HS) 12-1 p.m. Brunch & Bible in the Red Room and (MS) 5 p.m. Kayaking at Shelby Farms. Burgers with the Bishops, May 3: A special event for youth in the Diocese of West Tennessee to meet Bishop-Elect Phoebe Roaf and Presiding Bishop Michael Curry. May 3, 5-7:30 p.m. St. Columba's Gates Pavilion. Come play games, have a burger, meet the bishops, and ask them anything! Biscuits and Bible: Middle Schoolers are invited to join us in the Red Room Wednesday mornings at 6:45 a.m. for Bible study, prayer, and Chick-fil-A breakfast! For more information, email Addison Combs at acombs@gracestlukes.org.
Children's Choirs GSL’s two youth choirs, St. Cecilia Choir and Canterbury Choir, rehearse on Wednesdays. Rehearsal times are 4:30–5 p.m. for St. Cecilia Choir (for boys and girls in SK–2nd grade) and 5–6 p.m. for Canterbury Choir (for boys and girls in grades 3–6). Both choirs meet in the choir room at GSL and are under the direction of Music Associate Debbie Smith. For
more information, contact Debbie at 901-299-9313 or email her at dsmith@gracestlukes.org.
The May Messenger
Follow this link to the May 2019 issue of the Messenger.
Issuu version ~ Full-size PDF ~ Small-size PDF Inside this issue: 39ers, Adult Christian Formation, Altar Gifts, Athletics, Belvedere Music Festival, Bishop Consecration, Book Group, Calendar Highlights, Children's Formation, Choral Evensong, Enriching Our Worship, EYC, Food Pantry Facts, Holy Baptism, Looking Towards Sunday, Message from the Rector, MTAM Service Opportunity, Outreach Ministry, Parish Staff News, Public Theology, School News, Vacation Bible School, Waffle Shop Thank You Please note: For those of you who also get the paper edition of the Messenger, it has been mailed. If you are NOT getting the paper copy and would like to have it mailed to you, please let Lucy know. If you are unable to open the pdf file, updating Adobe Reader will most likely fix the problem. Contact Lucy with any question.
This Sunday at GSL
Join us for worship, formation, and fellowship (May 5). 8 a.m. – Holy Eucharist 8:45 a.m. – Delicious home-cooked breakfast. 9:30 a.m. – Christian Formation classes for adults (details above) 9:30 a.m. – Christian Formation classes for children Nursery
Infant Room (Newborn–Walking) Toddler Room (Walking–Potty Training) Little Lambs Room (Potty Training–Atrium Ready) Location: Church Nursery with the Nursery Staff Catechesis of the Good Shepherd: Atrium I 3–6 year olds: Pre–K, JK and SK Location: Atrium I (Green Room) Catechesis of the Good Shepherd: Atrium II
6–9 year olds: 1st, 2nd and 3rd Grade Location: Atrium II (Purple Room) Project Purpose 4th–5th Grade Location: Yellow Room 9:30 a.m. – Christian Formation classes for youth Rite 13 6th–8th Grade Location: Red Room J2A 9th–12th Grade Location: Red Room 10:30 a.m. – Holy Eucharist Following the 10:30 service – Coffee Hour Nursery – The nursery is available from 7:30 a.m. through the end of the 10:30 service 5:30 p.m. – Holy Eucharist Episcopal Youth Community (details above). More about Christian Formation at GSL
Children: www.gracestlukes.org/sunday-school
Youth: www.gracestlukes.org/youth-formation
Adults: www.gracestlukes.org/sunday-morning/
Our Vision is to be a thriving community of hope, belonging, and healing through worship, parish life, and service, and who rejoices in the love of Jesus to transform the world.
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